Asir to Mustaqbal Supporters: Hariri Has Put You in Confrontation with Jihadists
Fugitive Islamist cleric Ahmed al-Asir on Wednesday warned the supporters of al-Mustaqbal movement in Lebanon of a possible “confrontation” with the militants of the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front, in an apparent response to remarks by former premier Saad Hariri.
“Hariri has implicated his movement's leadership and members in a war against the jihadists, at a time (Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid) Jumblat is seeking to preserve his sect by saying that al-Nusra Front is not terrorist,” Asir said on his official Twitter account.
Jumblat had on Tuesday rejected the U.N.'s designation of al-Nusra as a terrorist group, noting that it is “comprised of Syrian citizens.” His remarks followed a statement from Rome by Hariri, who stressed that “the IS are terrorists who have fought the Lebanese citizens and army and we will fight them.”
“Do the sons of al-Mustaqbal movement understand what future Hariri has prepared for them by declaring war on the Islamic State?” Asir said.
“From his own safe place, and in the name of his entire movement, Hariri declared war against the jihadists, but what about the security of the rest of al-Mustaqbal movement's supporters?” Asir warned.
Describing his remarks as “an advice to al-Mustaqbal movement's sons,” the fugitive cleric added: “Beware that Hariri has put you in a confrontation with the jihadists of the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front who are defending our religion and honor.”
“A war declaration is a statement that cannot be said randomly and it will have major repercussions, so anyone belonging to Hariri's (movement) must reevaluate their calculations very well,” Asir cautioned.
The Islamist cleric is wanted by Lebanese authorities and has been on the run since the 2013 deadly battle with the Lebanese army in the Sidon suburb of Abra.
He has only appeared in one video and a couple of audio recordings, in addition to his rare tweets.
Some media reports say he sought refuge at the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp as others say he has joined jihadists in the Syrian Qalamun region, where the militants are engaging in near-daily clashes with Hizbullah and the Syrian army.
Y.R.
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